Planning a wedding is an exciting experience but it is very much a daunting task.

The couple must consider all the elements of the wedding – those that lie within the church arrangements and the reception – and on top of that they must concern themselves with the cost.

The going rate of a wedding these days is about $20,000, and that’s not including the plush ones at some fancy resort.

Many couples simply do not have that much money to pull off a wedding with all the bells and whistles. However, when they stop a moment and think about it: Do they really need a royal wedding?

The answer is no. The old line of money can’t buy you love is very true. As long as the couple can agree on a wedding that meets their needs, who really cares if they do not arrive at the wedding with a horse and carriage? Love conquers all.

This article will break down key parts of a couple’s wedding day and how they can save money without sacrificing the true meaning of their special occasion.

Invitations/Announcements

The days of having to hire a printer to publish all the wedding materials are over. Computer software programs have made printing the invitations and announcements so easy to do at home. The software also lends a professional and elegant look to the invitations. Just make sure you have enough ink and coarse paper to make the idea work.

And, of course, after the fact, the couple can print out thank you notes from their printer.

Wedding gowns and tuxedos

Forget the hand-made gowns made by some fashion guru, or a custom-made tuxedo from a tailor.

The best way to save money in this category is by wearing a hand-me-down gown from your mother or grandmother (bringing a tear to their eyes, by the way). If that’s not an option, consider going to a department store and buying a fancy white cocktail dress that is about $100 or less.

Another option is creating a fun theme for a wedding. If a couple loves the outdoors, why not have a casual wedding at a mountain getaway where the couple does not have to wear expensive clothing. Or if the wedding is held on the beach, forget about tuxedos and wear Hawaiian shirts and shorts.

That’s not being tacky; that’s being creative.

Flowers

This is where creativity really kicks in, and the couple can feel quite proud of themselves. Instead of spending hundreds at the local floral shop for dozens and dozens of flowers, the couple should handcraft their own (with the aid of family and friends, of course).

Craft stores offer inexpensive tissue that can be folded and arranged to look like a rose. Spend about an hour making those and stapling them to cheap green sticks (also available at craft stores) and you can have a roomful of flowers that look nice (without the threat of allergic reactions from guests).

Wedding Cake

Surely, there must be someone in the couple’s family who loves to bake. Every family has somebody like that, mostly grandmothers (but grandfathers can pitch in if they have to). What better wedding gift than to spend your day putting together a perfect cake?

It doesn’t have to be a four-tiered cake – just a large white cake given special attention from a loved one. Even better: It can be a special cake recipe that the couple loved to eat before. They know what they are getting, which adds to the excitement.

Favors

Do-it-yourself favors are becoming more of the norm nowadays. Many dollar stores offer a variety of wedding favor ideas that are very presentable. Depending on the size of the reception, the cost for putting together favors for the tables should be less than $100.

Transportation

Limousines are unnecessary. Allow family members and friends to decorate your vehicle with “Just Married” fanfare. That is a more original thought anyway than stepping in and out of an overpriced vehicle.

Reception

Like anything in life, if you can’t spend the money, don’t plan big. Follow your budget and invite the number of guests accordingly. The best plan is to keep the list to no more than 100 people. Those can be the closest ones you know – instead of some long-lost uncle – making the evening even more of a treat.

Having the reception in a large restaurant’s banquet area is the best idea for a small-budget wedding. The couple must pay a moderate fee to secure the room, but at least the food does not have to be catered. You don’t have to hire people to feed your guests. The restaurant workers will do that. If your guests want alcohol, they can order on their own straight from the restaurant’s bar.

If you want more of a private reception, try to book a local club’s lounge. Have a buffet-style dinner with food made by family members, or catered from an inexpensive restaurant. Many of these lounges also offer a bar with a bartender and the prices are not extravagant.

Photography

The technology of digital cameras is making it unnecessary for a couple to hire a photographer for their wedding. Many family members probably have digital cameras. You can coordinate with them – the ones you think will take the best shots – and make an arrangement to have the photos printed from their digital camera.

Another smart and fun idea is to leave inexpensive disposable cameras at each table for the guests to take photos. They simply return the cameras to the couple, who print them later and enjoy parts of their wedding they did not experience on their special night.

All these ideas do not sacrifice the value of a couple’s wedding. They actually enrich the experience because they involve more family and friends. Low-budget weddings with ideas such as this might not offer the style of a wedding seen on a soap opera, but they have more substance.

Think of it this way: No love between the couple will be lost because the reception is not held in an expensive hotel’s banquet room. Why not get cozy in a smaller reception room? The couple will have to be cozy together for the rest of their lives.

Thank you to Javier Moralas for this How to Plan a Cheap Wedding article.

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